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Student Security

Student security may not be at the forefront of your mind as an excited fresher about to start university and live away from home for the first time. However, the National Union of Students revealed that one in five students become a victim of crime. For this reason, we have compiled some information and quick-access advice to help keep you and your personal belongings safe during your university experience.

Living in university managed halls of residence

If you are just starting out your university experience and are a fresher, you are likely to be living in halls of residence. Generally, university halls are regarded as having excellent security measures in place, because the university has a duty of care. However, upon moving in, you should ensure the locks are all in good working order and that you take the time to familiarise yourself with them. If you find any problems with the locks, doors or windows, you should report this immediately. On moving in day, remember to take extra care not to leave the room unattended as you unpack your personal belongings. In addition to this, ensure that you close and lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house/flat. It is particularly important to do so if you live in a ground floor flat; they are the easiest for burglars to target. It is also a good idea to always lock your door/windows whilst you are out as other tenants may invite people to the house who you are not familiar with. Familiarise yourself with campus security telephone numbers and take up any advice the university offer. This way, if you are to experience a security issue during the year, you know straight away who to contact.

Living in a rented house

When living in a rented student house, it can feel more difficult to ensure maximum security. This is because you will either be having to liaise with a letting agency or a private landlord. However, you should run the same security checks and guidelines as we have suggested for living in halls of residence. In addition to this however, where possible, view the house before moving in to ensure the security is of a good standard before you’re due to arrive. If the security of the house is not up to standard, you should contact your agent or landlord at the first possible opportunity. The property should be in line with HMO regulations. Make sure the locks comply with home insurance policies. Once you have moved in, you should agree security rules with other tenants so that everyone feels comfortable. Moreover, in a student house there are likely to be periods of time where the house is completely vacant, such as over the Christmas holidays. Burglars will be aware of this and will use this opportunity to target your property. You should therefore take the time to hide valuable possessions out of sight, thus not making yourself an obvious target.

Transport Security

If you are a student that has a car at university, it may be that it is an old car. In this case, it is likely they won’t have immobilizers or alarms, making them easier to steal from. To avoid this, have an alarm fitted for piece of mind and park your car in a well-lit area with CCTV if possible. Similarly, if you have brought a bike with you, ensure it is stowed away when not in use and invest in a strong bike lock. For maximum security, it may be best to invest in two different locks for your bike.

Please contact us if you have any further questions regarding student security.